Imperialism in Asia - Brimley Area Schools

Outcome: British Imperialism
1.
Setting the Stage
a.
b.
c.
d.
Review: Imperialism is a policy in which a strong nation seeks to
dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially
The British economic interest in India began in the 1600s with the British
East India Company
The Mughal Dynasty began to crumble
From 1757 to 1858, The British East India Company was the leading power
in India
2.
British Expand Control over India
a.
The area controlled by the East India Company grew, eventually controlled
Bangladesh, most of southern India, and territory along the Ganges River
2.
British Expand Control over India
b.
c.
Sepoys, or Indian soldiers, made up a large part of the East India Company army
The Governor of Bombay referred to the sepoy army as a “delicate and dangerous
machine, which a little mismanagement may easily turn against us.”
2.
British Expand Control over India
d.
e.
f.
India was considered the “jewel of the crown” due to its profitability for the British
British policy demanded India to produce raw materials for the British and to
buy British goods; British goods drove out local producers (economic effect)
British set up railroads in India and transported tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, & opium
3.
Positive and Negative Effects of British Colonialism
a. Negative Effects
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
The British held much of the political and economic power in India
British restricted Indian industries such as textiles
Emphasis on cash crops resulted in loss of self sufficiency for
many villagers
Conversion to cash crops reduced food production causing famines
British missionaries and racism threatened traditional Indian culture
b. Positive Effects
i.
ii.
The British laid the world’s third largest railroad network
creating unity and allowing India to create a modern economy
Road networks, dams, bridges, irrigation canals,
telephone/telegraph lines were built which helped India modernize
iii. Sanitation and public health improved
iv. Schools and colleges were established; literacy improved
v.
British troops cleared central India of bandits and put an end to local warfare
4.
The Sepoy Mutiny
a. By 1850, the British controlled most of the Indian subcontinent but there was
pockets of discontent
b. Many Indians believed the British were trying to convert them to Christianity
c. Indians resented the constant racism the British expressed towards them
4.
The Sepoy Mutiny
• In 1857 a rumor spread that the sepoys rifle cartridges were greased with
beef and pork fat (cows are sacred to Hindus; Muslims don’t eat pork)
• 85 of the 90 sepoys refused the cartridges and were jailed
• The next day (May 10, 1857) they rebelled
• They marched to Delhi and captured the city; the rebellion spread to
northern and central India
• Fierce fighting took place; each side tried to slaughter the other side’s army
i.
j.
k.
l.
The Indian government was too weak to intervene
It took a year for the British to regain control: The British took
control and ruled until 1947
The part of India under British rule was called The Raj meaning rule
or sovereignty
The Sepoy Mutiny fueled the racist attitudes of the British and
increased distrust between Indians and the British
5.
Nationalism Surfaces in India
• In the early 1800s, some Indians began demanding more modernization
and a greater role in governing themselves
• Nationalism: extreme pride in one’s culture or country
5.
Nationalism Surfaces in India
c.
d.
Ram Mohun Roy, sometimes called the Father of Modern India,
believed arranged child marriages and the rigid caste separation
needed to change or India would continue to be controlled by outsiders
Indians began to have nationalist feelings and resented a system that
made them second class citizens in their own country

Result: History has shown that, when mistreated long enough, humans will eventually
react in an attempt to improve their situation. The seeds of change had been set in India
which later lead to an independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.